HOUSTON – A 27-year-old Guatemalan woman has been arrested and charged as a result of her alleged importation of approximately three kilograms of heroin into the United States, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. Monica Leticia Morales de Guzman was arrested Sept. 7, 2012, as she arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from Guatemala en route to Boston, Mass.

Morales de Guzman is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson at 2:00 p.m. today.

The criminal complaint filed just a short time ago indicates that on Sept. 7, 2012, Morales de Guzman, a citizen of Guatemala, arrived at IAH aboard United Airlines flight 1501 from Guatemala City, Guatemala, en route to Boston. At that time, she presented a valid Guatemalan passport, a valid U.S. Visa and her Customs Declaration Form. Morales de Guzman was referred to secondary inspection to undergo baggage examination, at which time Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers allegedly located nearly three kilograms of heroin after a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics on her luggage.

Located in a shopping bag inside her pink suitcase, officers discovered nine packages of powdered juice mix which concealed pink plastic bags containing a total of 2.994 kilograms of heroin, according to the complaint.

“This apprehension is an example of the commitment of CBP officers to disrupting alleged illegal activity that could pose a devastating threat to the American public,” said Jeffrey O. Baldwin Sr., CBP director of Houston Field Operations.

The case is being investigated by CBP and Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Lowery.